Can the National Classification System for Contaminated Sites be used to rank sites?

Abstract

In this paper, the ability of the National Classification System for Contaminated Sites (NCSCS) to rank contaminated sites has been investigated by comparing NCSCS score ranks to preliminary quantitative risk assessment (PQRA) result ranks. A recently published hierarchical partial order ranking procedure was applied to hazard quotients from PQRAs to generate ranks. Using data from 20 federal contaminated sites, the study showed that sites with low and high NCSCS score ranks correspond reasonably with low and high PQRA results ranks though there is scatter amongst the data in mid-ranges. Although the output from both the NCSCS and PQRAs have significant uncertainties, the study concludes that indeed the NCSCS can be used to rank sites. A figure is provided indicating the probability that a site with a higher NCSCS score will have a higher rank, as per PQRA.